Corinne Drewery
Her cool, sophisticated voice defined the sound of sophisticated 80s pop, turning Swing Out Sister into a global sensation.
Born 1959 (age 67)·British singer·Birthday: September 21·Baby Boomers
Biography
Corinne Drewery emerged from the vibrant British music scene of the 1980s not just as a singer but as a complete aesthetic vision. Before finding fame, she studied fashion at Kingston Polytechnic, a background that would infuse Swing Out Sister's entire presentation with a sharp, stylish elegance. The band's 1987 debut single, 'Breakout,' was an instant and unexpected smash, its jazzy chords and Drewery's effortlessly smooth vocal cutting through the era's synth-pop din. She became the face and voice of a sound that was both retro and utterly contemporary, drawing on classic pop and soul while feeling entirely fresh. Beyond the music, her personal style—a mix of vintage finds and modern cuts—made her a fashion icon of the period. While the hit-making frenzy cooled, Drewery and Swing Out Sister continued to craft refined albums, cultivating a dedicated international following and cementing her status as an artist who prioritized timeless quality over fleeting trends.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Corinne was born in 1959, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Corinne Was Born
The biggest hits of 1959
#1 Movie
Ben-Hur
Best Picture
Ben-Hur
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Corinne's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1959Born
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1964Started school
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1972Became a teenager
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1975Could drive
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1977Could vote
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1980Turned 21
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1989Turned 30
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1999Turned 40
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2009Turned 50
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 60
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 67 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Led Swing Out Sister to a global hit with their debut single 'Breakout,' which reached the top ten in both the UK and US charts.
- Co-wrote much of Swing Out Sister's catalog, including their successful debut album 'It's Better to Travel.'
- Maintained a consistent creative output with Swing Out Sister for over three decades, releasing multiple studio albums.
- Her distinctive vocal and style were central to defining the sophisticated 'sophisti-pop' genre of the late 1980s.
Did You Know?
She originally studied fashion design and worked as a fashion designer before her music career took off.
The name 'Swing Out Sister' was taken from a 1940s film called 'Swing Out, Sister.'
She provided backing vocals for the band The Style Council on their track 'The Lodgers.'
“I wanted the music to have a sophisticated, cinematic quality.”
